Originality a Virtue

Geoff Boucher quotes a copyright attorney as saying, “If you play something completely original on the radio, who wants to hear that?” (“Is the Song an Offspring?,” April 24). Was this an actual quote, or a typo?

Although I acknowledge the business world takes advantage of trends in music, including violence and sexuality, would an attorney possibly admit to saying this in public? Is that what earns a doctorate in musical theory?

Luckily, in spite of an awkward situation in which people who run everything from film companies to liquor companies now make many musical decisions, there have been enough technological advances for people to more affordably create new music and use the Internet for people to hear it. There’s nothing wrong with hip trends existing, but don’t knock originality.

ROBIN DANAR

Santa Monica

I’m 43 years old and, until recently, would never have purchased a CD by a punk rock band, but that is exactly what I did last week when I bought “Americana” by the Offspring.

“Americana” is full of witty, fun lyrics. A few songs are a bit despondent, such as their rendition of “Feelings,” but this is art, right? Music critics are probably correct in arguing that there was some melodic piracy of the Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da” in the chorus of “Why don’t you get a job?” But it is extremely doubtful that the Offspring were interested in trying to copy the Beatles for any reason but sheer sarcasm.

The Offspring deserve our attention and support for two reasons: They are brilliant and they are not from Seattle!

JAMES HIGBEE

Big Bear Lake